Convertible extension step-ladder.



. N0. 830,486.- PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906. L. M. NORTON. CONVERTIBLE EXTENSION STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 830,485. ,PATENTED SEPT. 4. 1906.

- L. M. NORTON.

CONVERTIBLE EXTENSION STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1905. I

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0., \uannmroh. I. c-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD M. NoRrori, or NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONVERTIBLE EXTENS'ON STEP-LADDER- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4:, 1906.

.To 06 whom it may concern:

Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Convertible Extension Step-Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in step-ladders of the extension variety, and comprises four separable or independent ladders or ladder-sections, together with attaching or connecting means, two of such sections being by preference provided with steps and the other two with rungs and one of the step-sections having a platform at the top, all as hereinafter set forth.

The object of my invention is to provide a light, serviceable, and convenient, yet strong and durable step-ladder which can be employed as an ordinary step-ladder or extend ed to different heights, is capable of use under various conditions where it would not be possible or practicable to use the old form of step-ladder, is convertible into two step-ladders each separate and distinct from the other, and may be disunited to furnish two entirely-separate extension-ladders or four segregated ladder-sections.

A further object of my invention is to afford simple and convenient means for permitting the various changes which such a step-ladder is capable of to be made with comparative ease and celerity.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the step-lad der complete, showing it closed or folded and occupying the least possible space; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the same open, or, in other words, with the legs separated and in position for use like an ordinary step-ladder Fig. 3, a side View of the step-ladder, one leg being partly extended, an arrangement adapting it for use where one leg is to rest on a stair-tread or other elevation while the other leg rests upon the floor below; Fig. 4, side elevations of two step-ladders made out of the one shown in the other views, with a platform supported thereby; Fig. 5, a sectional view of the step-ladder with the legs,

Separated and both partly extended; Fig. 6

a front elevation of the step-ladder when arranged as it appears in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 a side elevation illustrating how the step-ladder can be placed against a perpendicular wall or the like.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

This step-ladder consists, preferably, of four sections A, A, B, and B, each of the two former being made up of side rails a a, connected by steps b, and each of the two latter of side rails c c and rungs d. The sections A and B constitute what may be termed the front leg and the sections A and B the back leg. Permanently affixed to the .top of the section A is a short platform 6, mounted on joists f f, rigidly attached at their front ends to the side rails a of said section. Braces g g extend from the rear terminals of the joists f to the uppermost step b of the section A to assist in supporting said joists and the platform 6. The

back leg is pivotally attached to the joists f and Section A, so as to allow the back leg to be removed and the step-ladder to be converted into two extension-ladders or two independent step-ladders, as desired.

On the under side of each top and bottom step b is a button j, arranged and adapted when turned crosswise of the step to project inward beyond the same. Two stirrups 7c are secured on the inner edge of each side rail a near the top and bottom, the inwardly projecting curved portions thereof being adj acent the rear edges of the uppermost and lowermost steps I). These stirrups are designed to fit onto the rungs d and the buttons 3' to engage the under sides of said rungs, as will be clearly seen upon referring to the draw ings. Angular plates or clasps Z are fastened to the side rails c of the sections A and B near their upper terminals and extend outwardly to receive the sections A and B. ,It

will now be seen that when either of the lower buttons j is turned out of theway of the rungs d of the adjacent section B or B said section can be easily separated from the upper section in the same leg sufficiently for said rungs to clear the associated stirrups is, moved up or down, accordingly as it is desired to shorten or lengthen the leg the requisite distance, and then again secured by clasping the proper rung between said stirrups and button. tween the clasps Z and the upper sections to permit of the required amount of separation between such upper sections and the lower sections so that the latter can be moved without their rungs catching upon the lower stirrups except at the proper time. The fastening means for the two sections of each leg just described is very safe and secure, although simple and inexpensive. WVith the bolt it removed and the leg-sections unlocked said sections can be separated into four independent ladders.

Some suitable means, as the ordinary hooks m and m and staples n, may be provided for holding the legs of the step-ladder in place after being properly positioned and preventing them from further spreading apart.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the lowermost rungs (Z of the two sections B and B support the sections A and A through the medium of the bottom stirrups 7c, the clasps Z assisting, the bottom button j in this, as in all cases, merely serving to prevent the engaging rungs and stirrups from becoming accidentally disconnected either while the device as a whole is being moved or at other times. In Fig. 3 the third rung from the bottom of the section B forms the support in front and the lowermost rung of the section B forms the support behind, thus roducing a step-ladder with legs of unequal length adapted to stand upon different levels. The arrangement in Fig. 7, where the supporting-rungs front and back are the second from the bottom of the section B and the lowermost of the section B, re spectively, also produces a step-ladder with legs of unequal length, but which are adapted to stand on the same level, the back leg being vertical. Both legs are equally extended in Figs. 5 and 6, or substantially so, but not as 'much as they might be, into at least one rung front and back.

After disconnecting the legs each can be converted into a step-ladder by engaging the uppermost rung of the section B with the top stirrups 7c on the section A and the uppermost run of the section B with the top stirrups 7c on the section A, the top buttons 3' being now brought into service to prevent accidental displacement of the parts. By preference the section B is turned about, and so also is the There is suflicient looseness be-' section A, in order to bring the clasps Zinto play as stops, as shown in Fig. 4, thus doing away with any need of hooks, since one pair of said clasps contacts with the platform 6 and the other pair with the upper terminals of the rails a of said section A. It will be seen that one leg of each of these step-ladders is provided with steps and the other with rungs. A board or platform 0 is laid 011 the aforesaid independent step-ladders to form a staging.

No hooks or other equivalent fastening devices are required when the stepladder is employed either as shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 7.

It is a great advantage to have steps on both sections of the step-ladder upon which a person can stand to workthat is, the two upper sectionssince two persons are thus enabled to stand comfortably thereon or one can work conveniently from either the front or back side thereof.

It is clear that the step-ladder can be arranged in various other forms and made the subject of various other changes in addition to those illustrated, and it will be understood that much of its value resides in the many and different uses to which it is applicable.

I am aware that extension step-ladders have been produced before and do not seek to claim such a step-ladder, broadly but What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 'is

1. A convertible extension step-ladder comprising four sections adapted to be separated one from another, two of such sections being provided with stirrups and the other two sections with clasps, whereby two independent step-ladders may be formed out' of the four sections, in the manner substantially as shown.

2. The combination, in a step-ladder, of two upper sections having ste s, a platform rigidly attached to one of suc 1 sections, removable pivotal means for securely connecting the free end of said platform to the upper end of the other section and for releasing the same, two lower sections having rungs, stirrups on said upper sections adapted to bear upon the lower section-rungs, and clasps on said lower sections adapted to receive the upper sections.

3. The combination, in a step-ladder, of two upper sections having steps, a platform rigidly attached to one of such sections, removable pivotal means for securely connect- IIC ing the free end of said platform to the upper two ladder-sections arranged for pivotal at- 1 In testimony whereof I have signed my tachment and provided with stirrups adaptname to this specification in the presence of ed to fit over rungs and with buttons adapted 1 two subscribing witnesses.

to engage such rungs from below, of two LEONARD M. NORTON. other ladder-sections provided with clasps Witnesses: adapted to receive said two first-mentioned J. M. STERNS,

sections. F. A. CUTTER. 

